MANAMA, Bahrain – Clashes have erupted in Bahrain as anti-government protesters mark the second anniversary of the intervention by a Saudi-led force in the Gulf island's crisis.

Thousands of protesters are scuffling with riot police on the streets surrounding Manama and have set up many roads around the capital on Thursday. Others are throwing Molotov cocktails and burning tires.

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The police have fired tear gas and sounds of stun grenades are reverberating across the city. Most roads leading into Manama are closed.

The protesters are denouncing the intervention two years ago by Saudi and other Gulf troops who arrived in Bahrain to help the Western-backed Sunni monarchy quell a wave of anti-government protests demanding a greater role for the country's Shiite majority.